27 December at Aida refugee camp

by ray goodlass

Today on a group excursio to the Aida Refugee Camp, the largest in theBetlehem area, sanwiched between the Separation Wall and the city, andhousing 5,000 refugees, but originally set upfor 1,000.

Another heartbreaking experience, given the crowded condions, scarcityof facilities and resources, and most importantly the fact that thereis no hope of chang. The fact that concrete buildings (a very fewfaced with Jerusalem stone ’tiles’) have replaced the original tentscreates a depressing sense of permanence.

We visited some of the perimeter,saw a DVD titled Aida, had a lecturefrom Kahled, a resident refugee, then a tour of the camp, and a finaldiscussion.

There are several UN agencies, such as UNRWA and UNESCO, providingbasic services, including education. It is possible too to go on to University through the one Palestinion public (open, incldig onlineand DE) university, or one of the 8 private ones.

Apart from the appalling living condiitons, depressing sense ofpermanence and general hoplessness, there is a strong sense ofdefiance, which is shown by way of a lot of really powerful politicalstreet art – political cartoons, slogans and so. I took lots ofphotos.

I noticed also a fairly strong Israeli military presence, again onPalestinian land! Apparently on this occasion it was because childrenhad been observed, from the Israeli watch towers that overlook,throwing stones, presumaby at the ‘Separation Wall’. Overkill, surely,as a few stone throwing kids in a camp is hardly the start of thethird Intifada!

In conclusion for today, the heartbreaking permanence of the all toosolid buildings brings very strongly to mind the issue of the ‘Rightof Return’ for all the refugees, not just in this one and other campsin Palestine, but also those in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. This issuemust be satisfactorilly addressed and solved as part of a just peacesettlement.

Oh our day concluded with another good lecture, this time on refugees.